London conference: ‘Recent developments in Cyprus, regional problems and a national solution’

The UK’s Turkish community are invited to a televised debate on the Cyprus Talks. The conference and reception will take place at Hackney’s historic Round Chapel on Sunday 11 Dec. Host Adnan Türkkan, Ulusal TV’s General Broadcast Manager, will be joined by Dr. Ahmet Zeki Bulunç, a former TRNC ambassador to Ankara (1999-2004), and Soner Polat, a retired Rear Admiral and current head of International Relations for Turkey’s Vatan Party, to dissect the Peace Talks in Cyprus. After stalling in Switzerland, the talks are back on, with a multi-party conference planned in January. Entering the final phase of the talks, the two Cypriot leaders Mustafa Akınıcı and Nicos Anastasiades will discuss the thorny issues of territory and security together with the island’s three guarantors: Britain, Greece and Turkey. All this takes place against a backdrop of conflict across the Eastern Mediterranean region, which Turkey, Britain and numerous other parties, including Russia and USA, are embroiled in. Thrown into this challenging political climate are Britain’s exit from the EU and Donald Trump taking over the Presidency in the USA. Bulunç, Polat and Türkkan will be considering the impact of these global and regional factors on Cyprus, as well as addressing the key issues emerging from the talks:

• * What compromises is TRNC President Akınıcı making behind closed doors to strike a deal with Anastasiades, and how will it affect Turkish Cypriots on and off the island?
• * Is it possible to reach a sustainable political solution that can be backed by a majority on both sides of the Green Line divide?
• * Can bi-zonality (a Greek and a Turkish side) in Cyprus exist if EU norms such as freedom of movement and residency are adopted?
• * Given the regional conflicts, what are the security risks if Turkey withdraws all its troops and the guarantor system is abandoned?
• * What will be the fate of Maraş and Güzelyurt? And will post 1974 title deeds of former Greek Cypriot lands be valid in the event of a solution?

The timely conference, organised by the Anatolian Cultural Centre and London supporters of Ulusal TV, gives an opportunity to UK-based Turkish Cypriots and others interested in Cyprus to learn what’s at stake and to put their questions to the experts. The conference, in Turkish, will be televised in full on Ulusal TV the week after the conference, allowing audiences across Turkey, Cyprus and Europe to gain vital insights into this decades-old problem at this critical juncture. Entry price to the event includes refreshments.

Conference and reception details

Event: Kıbrıs’ta Son Gelişmeler, Bölgesel Sorunlar Ve Milli Çözüm Date: Sunday 11^th December 2016 Language: Turkish Event times: 3pm-7pm Venue address:  Round Chapel, 1D Glenarm Road, London E5 0LY Admission: £10 – includes food and drink Tickets & more info: 0796 195 3300 // 0790 333 3711 Main photo, L-R: Adnan Türkkan, Soner Polat, & Dr. Ahmet Zeki Bulunç